Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Mesa
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $63,621 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Mesa
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $506k less ($327,700 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $875/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $63,621/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 2.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$63,621
$137,387 vs $73,766/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
47% lower
254.4 vs 482.7 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$506k less
$327,700 vs $833,300
Mesa
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Mesa wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $327,700 median home), income ($137,387 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Mesa, AZ are about 1,956 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.